Brussels Sprout, Apple and Brie Grilled Cheese with Whipped Goat Cheese

Brussels Sprout, Apple and Brie Grilled Cheese with Whipped Goat Cheese - The BEST grilled cheese ever!

Ryan and I celebrated our 4 year (first date) anniversary last Wednesday. We went to my favorite Italian restaurant in town (MN people – go to Al Vento. Don’t ask questions, just go), where he ordered house made bucatini with meaty red sauce, and I had the best autumn-inspired veggie pizza ever (arugula! goat cheese! brussels sprout! apples!), and then we split a melt-in-your-mouth tiramisu.

Of course my first instinct is to write about the food, but the company was top notch. Four years earlier we had a date that was exciting and scary. Wednesday we had a date that was comfortable and fun. I’ll choose the latter every time.

Brussels Sprout, Apple and Brie Grilled Cheese with Whipped Goat Cheese - The BEST grilled cheese ever!
Brussels Sprout, Apple and Brie Grilled Cheese with Whipped Goat Cheese - The BEST grilled cheese ever!

Seriously though, that pizza. Putting apples on pizza is A THING. Who knew?

Brussels Sprout, Apple and Brie Grilled Cheese with Whipped Goat Cheese - The BEST grilled cheese ever!

As soon as we left the restaurant I started dreaming about recreating my pizza experience at home. However, I’ve been SUPER into grilled cheese lately, so the flavors of that pizza merged into what you see here today, which is…I kid you not…the BEST GRILLED CHEESE EVER.

Brussels Sprout, Apple and Brie Grilled Cheese with Whipped Goat Cheese - The BEST grilled cheese ever!

I am 100% obsessed with this sandwich. I texted my brussels sprout-loving friend when I was eating it on Saturday (pre-dinner at 5pm…oops), and then brought her a leftover sandwich when we met for coffee on Sunday. Our text conversation after she reheated it for lunch was chock-full of emojis and enthusiasm. My favorite comment was, “This is so much better than I thought a sandwich could be.”

Brussels Sprout, Apple and Brie Grilled Cheese with Whipped Goat Cheese - The BEST grilled cheese ever!

The combination of the tangy whipped goat cheese, sweet and lightly-crisp apples, nutty brussels sprouts, and creamy brie, all sandwiched between hearty, seeded bread…hubbada hubbada hubbada.

Brussels Sprout, Apple and Brie Grilled Cheese with Whipped Goat Cheese - The BEST grilled cheese ever!

As I’ve mentioned before, brussels sprouts are the one food Ryan WILL NOT eat. No way no how. Nope. I tried once to convince him otherwise, and the effort failed miserably. More sprouts for me, sucker!

Brussels Sprout, Apple and Brie Grilled Cheese with Whipped Goat Cheese - The BEST grilled cheese ever!

If you’re not one of those anti-sprout people, and love the mini cabbages, you absolutely MUST make this sandwich. It’s a game changer.

Brussels Sprout, Apple and Brie Grilled Cheese with Whipped Goat Cheese

Cold-weather comfort food at it's finest! Creamy, lightly sweet, and nutty grilled cheese made with whipped goat cheese, brussels sprouts, apples, and brie!

Yield: 4 sandwiches

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

Brussels Sprout, Apple, and Brie Grilled Cheese

  • 8 slices hearty whole grain bread
  • 1/2 macintosh apple, sliced to 1/8" thickness ([u]very[/u] thin)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 12 brussels sprouts, shredded (about 2 cups)
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 4 ounces brie, sliced (rind removed)
  • 4 tablespoons butter, for the bread (optional - see note)

Whipped Goat Cheese

  • 4 ounces goat cheese
  • 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil

Directions:

  1. For the whipped goat cheese: Combine the goat cheese and cream cheese in a food processor.
  2. Process until smooth, then drizzle in the olive oil until smooth. Set aside.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the brussels sprouts and salt, and cook, stirring frequently, until softened (about 6 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in the balsamic.
  4. Butter one side of each piece of bread (optional, but makes for a crispier outside). Flip the bread over, so it's buttered-side down, and spread the whipped goat cheese on each piece of bread. Top with apple slices, cooked brussels sprouts, and sliced brie.
  5. Cook the sandwiches in a panini press until golden and melty, or cook in a fry pan until golden (3-5 minutes), flip and cook on the other side until golden.
   

12 Responses to “Brussels Sprout, Apple and Brie Grilled Cheese with Whipped Goat Cheese”

  1. Megan Elliott (@LushtoBlush) — October 6, 2014 @ 7:27 am (#)

    This looks absolutely to die for! A must try! Congrats on your anniversary as well ;)

    xo Megan, Lush to Blush

    • Katie — October 10, 2014 @ 1:24 pm (#)

      Thank you, Megan!

  2. taylor @ greens & chocolate — October 6, 2014 @ 8:12 am (#)

    I am a brussels sprout enthusiast so you KNOW this is going to be made ASAP! Also – thanks for the restaurant rec…I’ve never heard much about Al Vento so I wasn’t sure if it was worth giving it a shot but now I do!

    • Katie — October 10, 2014 @ 1:24 pm (#)

      You need to go to Al Vento! I have loved everything I’ve ever had there. Tooootally worth it.

  3. Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar — October 6, 2014 @ 9:03 am (#)

    Oh man, this grilled cheese is jam packed with goodness. LOVE the flavour!

  4. Cheryl — October 6, 2014 @ 9:35 am (#)

    Damn, you’re right. This is like EVERYTHING good in a sandwich. You leveled up the goat cheese with brie?! It’s almost painful. That bread looks baller, too. Like the perfect cushion for all that goodness!

    • Katie — October 10, 2014 @ 1:23 pm (#)

      The bread is totally baller! I also need to use the word “baller” more. Definitely underused in my vocab. Thanks for that :)

  5. Anna — October 6, 2014 @ 5:55 pm (#)

    I can’t even handle the wonder that is this sandwich!

  6. Tieghan — October 6, 2014 @ 10:44 pm (#)

    YEEESSSS! Geez, this is all kinds of amazing. I love the combo of brussels, apples and cheese. To flipping good! :)

    • Katie — October 10, 2014 @ 1:25 pm (#)

      It’s my new favorite combo, for sure! Thanks for the comment, Tieghan!

  7. Pingback: Brussels Sprout, Apple, and Brie with Goat Cheese spread Grilled Cheese and Caesar Salad | Chronic Living at 23

  8. Anna — November 8, 2015 @ 10:23 pm (#)

    This is the best sandwich I’ve ever had.

    Yes, ever. 

    THANK YOU. xoxo